MAORI CLOTHING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23232, 29 December 1938, Page 12

MAORI CLOTHING

PLANS FOE CENTENNIAL INSTRUCTION OF WOMEN ACTIVITY IN NORTH AUCKLAND [from our own correspondent! WHANG A REI, Wednesday The Maori women in a number of the native settlements of the Ngapuhi territory are busy making the cloaks, belts and headbands for the crew of the Ngapuhi centennial canoe. The art of making these articles of clothing had been largely lost in the North, but had been retained in some other districts. Consequently, Mrs. H. Heperi, of Waihou Valley, went to Princess To Puia's Pa and there mastered the art and since her return to the North has been busy teaching other women so that all the necessary clothing will be ready for the centennial year. The large canoe that is being built at Kerikeri will be manned by a crew of 150, while a smaller canoe is also being constructed at Waihaha, on the Bay of islands. A proposal is t>n foot among the northern Maoris to construct a building to house the centennial canoe alongside the meeting house that is being built on tlio WaitangJ Estate. In addition to the Maori clothing that will be required for the crew of the canoes hundreds of other Maoris taking part in the centennial celebrations at Waitangi in February, 1910, will also need to bo appropriately dressed, hence the early start that has been made by the women in the preparation of the clothing. The waistbands and headbands of the Ngapuhi are being carried out in Taniko weaving in black and white, while black and white will also be the decorations on the cloaks, wool being used for these decorations as tufts of feathers are unobtainable.